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Catholic Mothers inspired By St Monica To Pray For 'A Homecoming This Christmas'
Report by WUCWO Board Member Mrs Sheilagh Preston
Giving Hope by Giving Up
How a Belgian Nun, a poodle, and you the Catholic women of England and Wales turned giving up into giving hope.
2010 Anniversary of Fast Day
We need your help for 2010!
It may seem a while away, but 2010 will be the 50th anniversary of CAFOD’s Fast Day – and for that we need your help!
As you all know, the Family Fast Day was started by women like yourselves, and sponsored by the NBCW. We’d like the 50th anniversary to be a celebration of women, and what can be and has been achieved and we’re appealing for your memories, stories and thoughts of the past 48 years of Fast Days – whether they’re from 1960 or 2008. If you’re planning something of your own to celebrate 50 years then please let us know that as well.
We’d love to celebrate the anniversary of Fast Day with the women of the UCM, CWL and NBCW who really made (and still make) it happen.
Please get in touch either via email (apennington@cafod.org.uk) or write to me at CAFOD, Romero Close, Stockwell Road, London, SW9 9TY.
Many
thanks indeed,
Alex Pennington
Diocesan Media Day 2009
The recent Media day held at St. Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham was very well attended with representatives from eleven dioceses.
Sheila Godley, our National Media Officer has updated our website and the circulation of the Audio Paper continues to grow with the help of Margaret McNicholas and Carol McKenna who read the articles for the tape.
There was plenty of input and ideas from media officers to show how we can move forward through communication and recruitment. We can speak at Mass about the work of The UCM, make use of display boards, perhaps have a permanent display in some of our churches or parish halls, but we need to keep them fresh and up to date. Look and see where you can get free advertising for events you are holding. Talk to people at the school gate, in the doctors, dentists in work etc. you never know where the seed may be planted.
Pass around the newspaper, one member gives copies to the young members of the S.V.P. who go visiting in care homes, lots of these care homes have young carers, some of them may be future members. Let people see we are a growing organisation. Celebrate when you have enrolments, send photos into the paper, publicise it in your parish newsletter.
Whatever ideas you have, share them, different things work for different people and situations. We are resourceful, we can adapt ideas to make them work for us..
Open up your socials and events to as many people as possible in your locality. I am sure you can all come up with something to help spread the message and work of The UCM. Be positive and enthusiastic, let people see that UCM really means something to you. With UCM it gets into your heart and soul.
I look forward to working with the Media team and officers in the dioceses.
Barbara Hetherington